 Poster: A snowHead
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Recently started skiing again after not touching skis and snow from 18-32, a 14yr break! (Tell a lie, there was a little snowboard trip in the gap.)
When people told me it was like riding a bike I didn't realise how much, it was like I hadn't stopped. Fine on black runs, carving, jump turns, annoying the beginner missus with 360 pirouettes spins going down the blues with her...
Now I know my technique is probably pretty rubbish after that break, and always up for improving. Me and the missus are heading to Grandvalira for Christmas and she'll be booking into the group lessons.
My question is how high do group lessons go? Is it worth me signing up for 5 days or should I save my cash for an couple of hours or more of private tuition?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Hi, I had a lay off from 18 to 48! and like you got back to where I was in no time at all. i haven't gone the group lesson route and to be honest you sound more than competent. I went the private lesson route, two hours for about £75. worth every penny and tailored to exactly what I wanted or the coach thought i needed. i now have a private lesson every trip and I improve a little each trip.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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1 - you haven't skied in 14 years
2 - things have changed quite a lot
3 - you may still have needed lessons 14 years ago ...
I'm sure you'll find something that suits but best ask the school
Last edited by Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see? on Tue 1-03-16 20:05; edited 1 time in total
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@Whagwan,
Group lessons go as high as the clientele asking for them in my experience which actually varies quite a lot, some places run group lessons for very good skiers in other places there does not appear to be the demand, and better skiers can get frustrated.
From your description my inclination would be to go for private lessons unless you have particular feedback about a ski school.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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@Whagwan, best ask, it will vary from ski school to ski school, but I think most will run classes for advanced skiers (although you should ask what happens if they don't have enough numbers to run a group at that level).
Smaller ski schools can sometimes be a bit more specialist, and in our experience (at Inside Out Skiing) there is no shortage of experienced skiers who want to continue their development. Our top level group on each of the alpine trips we run normally has several L1 instructors working towards L2, with the rest of the group can be skiing at a similar level.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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@rob@rar, from a quick nosy look at the Grandvalira ski school site group lessons seem to stop at "intermediate" - with no definition of what that might mean... 
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| under a new name wrote: |
| @rob@rar, from a quick nosy look at the Grandvalira ski school site group lessons seem to stop at "intermediate" |
Less than helpful.
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Private lessons.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Not being prejudiced, but it is Andorra after all...
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Given Andorra's somewhat unfair reputation for not having any difficult piste skiing (and from there, often, the idiotic conclusion that it doesn't have any good skiing, full stop) I suspect that it doesn't attract a whole lot of people looking for advanced group lessons.
Private lessons are cheap in the Pyrenees. Go for that instead.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Top end group lessons can vary a lot. My frustration with them in recent years is that i expect my fellow customers to have learned how to be coached by now. Give me a quick few words of advice, i'll listen closely and give it a try, followed by more iterations.
All too often however i have to hear someone repeating back endless variations of 'so what you are saying is blah blah blah' or even worse a story of how some instructor years ago and far away used to teach something.
I always try for a one day group now with an option to bail out depending on the group members.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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Andorra is overrated. Some Lindsey woman was skiing there recently, bust her knee but still won. Proves there was no real challenge.
Last year I don't remember anyone particularly high in the groups at El Tarter. You'll probably need private.
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A number of ski schools do 'clinics' for advanced skiers rather than daily lessons. You should definitely check out the ski schools at your selected resort. Or as other people have mentioned. My husband is what is probably considered to be an advanced skier but he always thinks there is something he can learn and often does a clinic or the odd private lessons.
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You know it makes sense.
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About 3000m. Probably lower in Andorra.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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| under a new name wrote: |
| @rob@rar, from a quick nosy look at the Grandvalira ski school site group lessons seem to stop at "intermediate" - with no definition of what that might mean... |
Doh, I'm usually the first to tell people to use google.
Found the info here:
https://www.soldeu.com/ski-school/
Beginners: Never skied before
Class 2: Able to turn right & left and use a drag lift
Class 3: Confident on all blue runs
Class 4: Able to ski red runs with confidence and control
So private lessons it is then...
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Poster: A snowHead
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@Whagwan, I am not convinced that "Fine on black runs, carving, jump turns, annoying the beginner missus with 360 pirouettes spins going down the blues" indicates anything other than a potential total lack of control... 
Unconscious incompetence,
Conscious incompetence,
Conscious competence,
Unconscious competence,
repeat...
But unless you're looking to meet mates beyond a certain point private lessons are a much better idea anyway, IMV.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Not denying it, my post wasn't "Should I have more lessons?" it was more "what lessons are appropriate?"...
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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In most big French resorts you'd easily pick up group lessons for that level, but agree in grand valira it's going to be private lessons. Welcome back to wintersports  aj
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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I had group lessons in the Grandvalira when we were out there (we stayed and had lessons from Pas). I think it was week 3 of skiing for me (week 1 group lessons, week 2 a 1 full day of 1:2 private lesson). Given it was only my 3rd week skiing, I was in the top group, not because I was good but because practically Al, the other groups were absolute beginners.
I have to say that of all the group lessons I've had it was the most fun I've had. The group were a good mix which probably made a big difference. Our instructor took us everywhere, top to bottom, in between trees, jumps off rocks (one was about a 6ft drop which I chickened), ski cross, a little powder field... He really mixed it up.
If your OH is an absolute beginner I wouldn't rule out group lessons. Gives you others to ski with. For us it seemed silly not to have the lessons, the cost of the lift pass included lessons bizarrely, possibly an end of season offer.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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In my opinion/experience if you're able to get around the mountain comfortably and don't need the more formal environment of having an instructor on hand to keep you focused on what you're meant to be doing you'll get more out of a few private lessons.
Book a block of three 1-2hr private lessons over the week and at the end of your lesson go off and practice that you've been taught.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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| Mjit wrote: |
| In my opinion/experience if you're able to get around the mountain comfortably and don't need the more formal environment of having an instructor on hand to keep you focused on what you're meant to be doing you'll get more out of a few private lessons. |
I think private lessons and group lessons can both be very helpful in improving your skiing, and the choice depends on what you are looking to achieve. Both have advantages and disadvantages, and I don't either is better than the other option. If you are looking to fix one or two particular issues or to "top-up" your skills development, then private lessons can be very effective. But if you are looking for all-round improvement of your skills, to develop better tactical experience on terrain, be pushed beyond what you think your limits are then group lessons might be a better option. For my skiing it has been the group sessions over the years that have had the most positive impact. I've chosen the ski school/coach very carefully, opted for instruction from a native English speaker, made sure that the other skiers in my group will be at a similar level & aptitude, and this, for me, was the best formula. There's also the whole social side of skiing in a group, although I appreciate that if you are on holiday with family or friends who are not taking lessons this can be a compromise which needs managing..
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| rob@rar wrote: |
| @Whagwan Our top level group on each of the alpine trips we run normally has several L1 instructors working towards L2, with the rest of the group can be skiing at a similar level. |
maybe slightly OT but any plans for groups a bit higher ie l2 qualified? Kinda missing technical training but don't want to go down the L3 stressful will I pass/won't I pass route!!
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@kitenski, at the moment no, although the BASI Tune-Up course you did with us a couple of years ago might be an option? Obviously Del will push you as far as possible, and it's a week of good technical training.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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| hammerite wrote: |
I had group lessons in the Grandvalira when we were out there (we stayed and had lessons from Pas). I think it was week 3 of skiing for me (week 1 group lessons, week 2 a 1 full day of 1:2 private lesson). Given it was only my 3rd week skiing, I was in the top group, not because I was good but because practically Al, the other groups were absolute beginners.
I have to say that of all the group lessons I've had it was the most fun I've had. The group were a good mix which probably made a big difference. Our instructor took us everywhere, top to bottom, in between trees, jumps off rocks (one was about a 6ft drop which I chickened), ski cross, a little powder field... He really mixed it up.
If your OH is an absolute beginner I wouldn't rule out group lessons. Gives you others to ski with. For us it seemed silly not to have the lessons, the cost of the lift pass included lessons bizarrely, possibly an end of season offer. |
See that's what I'd like from a lesson, something to mix it up and stretch me a bit as well as work on technique. I take it I could ask for this in a private lesson anyway?
Other half isn't a total beginner; learnt on a dry slope and has had three days of blue runs in Zakopane this year but will definitely be going into the group lessons...
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@Whagwan, sorry to hijack your post - but @hammerite, your man sounds like the guy I'm after - I'm heading out to Pas this Sunday and I'm after a couple of hours of private tuition - who should I ask for?
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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No idea, it was a few years ago. The instructor was a young bloke from Barcelona - which probably counts for the majority of their ski instructors! It was the lift company's own ski school https://www.pasdelacasa.com/ski-school/
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FAQ
